Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent

Last Updated: January 30, 2026 by webmaster

CKMF 80th Anniversary Gala Concert

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CKMF 80th Anniversary Gala Concert with Paige Kosik, Vocalist

Join us in celebrating 80 years of community spirit at our special CKMF Anniversary Gala Concert. This special evening underscores our mission of supporting young musicians throughout Chatham-Kent and beyond.
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
About the evening: We invite you to be part of this memorable night, where Paige Kosik, vocalist, and Jim Prosser, piano, will fill the intimate space in Studio One with show tunes as well as stories about Paige’s journey from Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival prizewinner to busy performer with Disney. Your presence at this special event will strengthen our mission to foster musical growth among our youth, and volunteerism in our community.
Proceeds from this event will support Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival, a registered charity (BN 118850775RR0001).

Click here for tickets

www.zeffy.com

💡use this for an easy link: https://chathamkiwanis.com/g/kosik

Last Updated: November 8, 2025 by webmaster

Bus Trips 2025/26 Season

Come From Away – The Grand Theatre, London – Saturday May 23, 2026

Come From Away – May 23 – The Grand Theatre, London

Click here for tickets

www.zeffy.com

A powerful musical based on the true story of how the residents of Gander NL welcomed 7,000 stranded passengers after 9/11, a heartwarming tale of kindness, unexpected friendships, and human connection during a global crisis.

Lunch is at Delta Hotels London Armouries, 325 Dundas St. “Local Farm Fair” buffet with Cottage Pie and Honey & Herb Roasted Chicken, dessert and drink.

Price is $185 per person. Sales close April 7, 2026.

The price includes round-trip coach bus transportation, lunch, orchestra seating, parking, and all gratuities. Any proceeds benefit children’s charities and programming in CK.

We try to accommodate any accessibility or dietary needs. Contact us at bustrips2025@chathamkiwanis.com or (519) 784-0003 to reserve a spot or ask questions.

Last Updated: October 6, 2025 by webmaster

Syllabus 2026 Available

September 29, 2025

The syllabus for the 80th annual Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival is now available for download. Free hard copies are available at the local music shops. Registrations will be accepted as of November 15 at our Music Festival Suite webpage.

Download Now!

226 Downloads

Last Updated: September 30, 2025 by webmaster

Why early childhood literacy matters

The brain’s fastest growth happens before school; rich language and shared reading in these years build vocabulary, attention, and the pre-skills that make decoding and comprehension in Grade 1–3 far easier. Canada’s paediatricians explicitly urge daily “read, speak, sing” routines from infancy because they support language, social-emotional health, and family bonds. (PMC, Canadian Paediatric Society)
Canada’s education system is feeling the strain: by international assessment (PISA), Canadian reading performance has declined since 2000, and about 1 in 7 fifteen-year-olds perform at the lowest reading level—students who face steep challenges in later learning and life. Investing early is the most cost-effective way to bend that curve. (Canadian Paediatric Society, CMEC)
Ontario’s own Early Years research (McCain–Mustard–Shanker) emphasized that high-quality early childhood supports produce larger, more equitable literacy gains than later remediation. (Early Years Study)